Retrofitting the city: reuse of non-domestic buildings

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify and understand the commercial framing of retrofitting activities of existing buildings in the UK, the mediation of these issues in current regeneration processes and their relation to objectives for sustainable development. A case study focusing on the dynamics and retrofitting of non-domestic buildings in Bristol, UK showed that commercial objectives and local community regeneration are more prevalent in practice than environmental protection and carbon reduction objectives. This situation is supported by current regeneration policies and commercial interests. Sustainability issues have had an impact on current building practices and the UK property sector may be experiencing a shift as it gains understanding of the risks involved in ‘unsustainable’ buildings. The case study indicates that more radical changes in current practice are needed in order to reach contemporary objectives for carbon reduction in the existing building stock and to meet anticipated stronger policy and regulation. The Bristol case study was carried out in 2008, but before the global financial crisis impacted on development activity in the city.